EGG-PLANT. 95 



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the plants one month more at a very inclement season of 

 the year, and also the trouble and expense of making en 

 extra hot-bed, but this is more than compensated by the 

 returns from a full crop of seed. In either case, the hot- 

 bed should be made as directed under that head, with an 

 addition of six inches more of manure. The surface must 

 be raked even, and enough sifted soil be added to make 

 the depth six inches, when the plants are to remain in the 

 seed-bed until transplanted to the open ground; but three 

 inches will be sufficient when it is designed to use a 

 second hot-bed. Spread the seed even and -thin; one 

 ounce of seed will sow two sashes, and produce two 

 thousand plants; cover with one half an inch of very line 

 soil ; water lightly from a fine-rose watering-pot ; put on 

 the sashes, and cover the whole from the sun for twenty- 

 four hours ; then remove the shading, and allow the vapor 

 to pass away, but do not allow the bed to become chilled, 

 by opening each end-sash one inch from the top for a 

 short time in the middle of the day. The bed must not 

 be allowed to become dry, nor yet be kept very wet; the 

 upper part may need an occasional sprinkling, but the 

 lower half will be naturally moist enough. When the 

 plants first come up, they arc very liable to damp off, and 

 at this time but little water must be used the vapor must 

 be allowed to pass off ; still beware of chilling the plants. 

 If sown the first of April, the plants may be thinned to 

 four inches apart ; but when sown the first of March, I 

 prepare a second and larger hot-bed when the plants are 

 forming the second leaves, which is tempered and ready 

 by the time the plants arc large enough to handle easily. 

 In this bed the soil is at least six inches deep, raked 

 fine, and the surface even. In this the young plants are 

 pricked out six inches apart, lightly watered, the sashes 

 put on, the plants shaded for a day or two, and during 

 the middle of the day for two or three days longer. 

 Egg-plants have but few fibrous roots, consequently they 



